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10-22-2020, 01:19 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 942
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Trouble backing in my 5th wheel with new truck
I have only done it 3 times now, but getting used to the new truck is painful to watch. I had a 2013 Ram 2500 short bed and I could back my trailer fine. The new 2020 RAM 3500 long bed, well, not so much. I didn't think it would be that much different, but it appears so. I am backing into a 10 foot wide rv pad on my property. And it is a two lane road.
I have done what I did when the rig was new with the other truck, and watched more videos. I will try a couple of things differently next time. And may just take it out this weekend to an empty lot to practice. I under estimated the difference 2 feet of truck makes.
I just thought I'd share in case someone else will go through this. I was pretty good with the old truck. Just need to get there with the new truck without having a heart attack.
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2020 Ram 3500 Tradesman HO Diesel Aisen CC LWB Dually
2008 Cherokee WolfPack 295WP
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10-22-2020, 01:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas,OR
Posts: 4,584
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Just takes a little practice. Have not owned a short bed truck since I bought a Dodge D100 back in the 70s. I just spend a Sarurday teaching a gal who had never owned or towed how to bqck up her brand new 42 foot toy hauler with her crew cab long bed Ram dually. The hardest thing to teach is how soon to start following the trailer. There is a difference for sure. But with a bit of practice you should be able to jack knife it into almost any place.
__________________
Don and Lorri
Resident Dummy.
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10-22-2020, 01:36 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 596
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You'll get there, HDGoose. Backing slowly is good. Time is your friend.
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1998 Fleetwood Flair 25Y--P30 Chassis - KD5ALG
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." - Mark Twain
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10-22-2020, 01:53 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 21,638
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Are you approaching from passenger side (blind side) or from Drivers side?
Approach close to edge of road then when front tires of 5vr meet side of driveway turn truck away at 45* angle then when rear of 5vr meets edge of driveway straight truck out
*easier if approaching from drivers side --that way you can WATCH 5vr tires as you backin
Long bed........5vr will react SLOW at first then quicker as it begins to turn
SWOOP Method
Approach
Turn away
Straighten truck out...set up for backing in
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor & NUWA 5vr
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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10-22-2020, 02:33 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 942
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit
Are you approaching from passenger side (blind side) or from Drivers side?
Approach close to edge of road then when front tires of 5vr meet side of driveway turn truck away at 45* angle then when rear of 5vr meets edge of driveway straight truck out
*easier if approaching from drivers side --that way you can WATCH 5vr tires as you backin
Long bed........5vr will react SLOW at first then quicker as it begins to turn
SWOOP Method
Approach
Turn away
Straighten truck out...set up for backing in

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I usually do it from the passenger side with the shorter 2500, I didn't need to do the angle. I had enough space to back it when parallel to the road edge. I will do the angle method next time. I had already found those helpful hints from google. Thanks!
__________________
2020 Ram 3500 Tradesman HO Diesel Aisen CC LWB Dually
2008 Cherokee WolfPack 295WP
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10-22-2020, 04:06 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Coast Florida
Posts: 10,980
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Backing a 5th wheel I was really surprised buy how much room the truck needs. To get the 5th wheel in my old driveway I had to take the truck up onto the across the street grass between the sidewalk and the street.
I had F-450 that could turn shaper. But still I needed a lot of room to swing the truck where it needed to be.
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10-22-2020, 06:23 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Oswego IL
Posts: 2,143
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It is not a short bed truck or a long bed truck that makes a difference in backing up any trailer! It is the wheel base of the truck that matters. I have a short bed truck, a Dodge Mega Cab with a wheel base of 160.5". This truck has a longer wheel base than a Dodge Regular Cab Long Bed truck which has a 140.5" So, what I look at is wheel base when picking a truck.
I find the best way is always position the trailer in the same point, so many feet from the pad that I want to put the trailer on. Start out really slow and turn the steering wheel sharply to the left, hand placed at the 6 o'clock position. Once the trailer starts to turn start chasing the trailer with the tow vehicle. You may need to pull forward and straighten out the truck and trailer, doing this a couple of times. This works for me.
__________________
Jim & Jill
Sold: 2010 318SAB Cougar:New: 2016 Cedar Creek 34RL. 2008 Dodge 6.7LCummins the original 6.7L engine, w/68RFE Auto
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10-22-2020, 11:13 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 942
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The difference between my new truck and my old truck is the truck bed. I had a 2913 RAM 2500 crew cab short bed. I am w have a 2020 RAM 3500 crew cab long bed dually. So for this instance the bed length is the difference.
__________________
2020 Ram 3500 Tradesman HO Diesel Aisen CC LWB Dually
2008 Cherokee WolfPack 295WP
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10-23-2020, 06:38 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Dittmer, MO 63023
Posts: 984
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Longer bed with same cab design creates a longer wheelbase is what he was getting at.
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2005 CC Affinity 770, 2006 Jeep TJ
2015 Newmar Essex 4553
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10-23-2020, 07:04 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
RV Trip Wizard Grand Design Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Georiga
Posts: 283
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Old-Biscut provided some great illustrations. Since the wheel base of your TV has changed all you need to work on is ether start your turns a little sooner and start coming out of your turn sooner. The only advise I can add is, keep the vehicle moving (maybe just above idle) so you can see the reaction of your turn quickly, its always better to make a lot of small wheel corrections while backing and always pull up and take another bit at the space if you need to.
__________________
Retired Tanker Yanker 2017 F-250 6.7 2019 Reflection 150 273 MK, Carlisle CSL 16 225/75 15, MORryde CRE 3000 & center X cross brace, Sumo springs, Andersen Ultimate Hitch  May your pleasures be many and your troubles be few! Safe Journey.
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10-23-2020, 07:13 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 1,911
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As usual Old Biscuit, (love to know how he came up with that name, grin) has nailed it.
Just to add something for the new to trailer folks. When backing put one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, then push in the direction you wish the trailer to go. Easy. Works with any type, even a semi rig.
The big issue with a longer truck is the longer time for the trailer to react.
__________________
Jeff and Annette Smith
2011 GMC Diesel 2500 HD
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10-23-2020, 11:32 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Oswego IL
Posts: 2,143
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HDGoose
The difference between my new truck and my old truck is the truck bed. I had a 2913 RAM 2500 crew cab short bed. I am w have a 2020 RAM 3500 crew cab long bed dually. So for this instance the bed length is the difference.
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What is the wheelbase of your trucks?
That's what matters at least it did when I was designing heavy equipment machines! Unless some changed since I retired and I am not aware of the change!
__________________
Jim & Jill
Sold: 2010 318SAB Cougar:New: 2016 Cedar Creek 34RL. 2008 Dodge 6.7LCummins the original 6.7L engine, w/68RFE Auto
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10-23-2020, 11:58 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 21,638
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xmcdog
As usual Old Biscuit, (love to know how he came up with that name, grin) has nailed it.
Just to add something for the new to trailer folks. When backing put one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel, then push in the direction you wish the trailer to go. Easy. Works with any type, even a semi rig.
The big issue with a longer truck is the longer time for the trailer to react. 
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Hardtack was my Cowboy Action Shooting handle
Old Biscuit is a play off of that
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor & NUWA 5vr
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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10-23-2020, 05:08 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Coast Florida
Posts: 10,980
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Wheelbase - I had a F-450 with a wheelbase of 172" and 8' bed. I now have a F-250 160" wheelbase and 6.5' bed.
The F-450 was easier to park, and better to back a 5th wheel strictly because I could turn the steering wheels at a much sharper angle.
At the end of my street there is a small turnaround - the F-450 could make while my shorter wheelbase F-250 can not. O have to back the F-250 to complete the turn.
My point - wheelbase is not always the factor.
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